Aurora A phosphorylation of TACC3/maskin is required for centrosome-dependent microtubule assembly in mitosis

J Cell Biol. 2005 Sep 26;170(7):1047-55. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200503023. Epub 2005 Sep 19.

Abstract

Centrosomes act as sites of microtubule growth, but little is known about how the number and stability of microtubules emanating from a centrosome are controlled during the cell cycle. We studied the role of the TACC3-XMAP215 complex in this process by using purified proteins and Xenopus laevis egg extracts. We show that TACC3 forms a one-to-one complex with and enhances the microtubule-stabilizing activity of XMAP215 in vitro. TACC3 enhances the number of microtubules emanating from mitotic centrosomes, and its targeting to centrosomes is regulated by Aurora A-dependent phosphorylation. We propose that Aurora A regulation of TACC3 activity defines a centrosome-specific mechanism for regulation of microtubule polymerization in mitosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Extracts
  • Centrosome / physiology*
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / physiology
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Microtubules / metabolism*
  • Mitosis*
  • Oocytes / chemistry
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / physiology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenopus Proteins / physiology*
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • CKAP5 protein, Xenopus
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Extracts
  • KIF2C protein, human
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • TACC3 protein, Xenopus
  • Transcription Factors
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • Protein Kinases
  • AURKA protein, Xenopus
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Kinesins